GUWAHATI, March 20: Regional parties and key allies in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) – have announced their candidates for the Assam Assembly elections scheduled on April 9.
While AGP announced its list of 26 candidates, the Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF declared nominees for 11 constituencies across the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
The Atul Bora-led AGP has opted for a mix of sitting leaders and new faces, with as many as 13 candidates from the minority community in the fray this time.
The candidates named are Atul Bora (Bokakhat), Keshab Mahanta (Koliabor), Dipti Moyee Choudhury (Bongaigaon), Dipak Kumar Das (Barpeta), Bikash Saikia (Teok), Tapan Das (Dimoria), Prithviraj Rabha (Tezpur), Dharmeswar Ray (Bajali), Prakash Chandra Das (Hajo–Sualkuchi), Prodip Hazarika (Sivasagar), Basanta Das (Naoboicha), Jibesh Rai (Bilasipara), Karim Uddin Borbhuyan (Sonai), Ikbal Hussain (Karimganj South), Zabed Islam (Mankachar), Abdul Rahim Zibran (Goalpara East), Jakir Hussain Laskar (Algapur Katlichera), Sahabuddin Mazumdar (Binnakandi), Jakir Hussain Farazi (Rupahihat), Sahidul Islam (Srijangram), Khalilur Rahman (Lahorighat), Saddam Hussain (Chenga), Dr Tara Prasad Das (Paka Betbari), Nurul Islam (Chamaria), Abu Sha Shadi Hossain (Jaleswar) and Mehtabul Haque (Gauripur).
Notably, five-time MLA from Guwahati West constituency, Ramendra Narayan Kalita, has been dropped from the list after delimitation of the constituencies.
The BPF list comprises candidates for key constituencies such as Gossaigaon, Dotma (ST), Kokrajhar (ST), Baokhungri, Parbotjhora, Sidli-Chirang (ST), Manas, Baksa (ST), Bhergaon, Udalguri (ST), and Mazbat.
The party has fielded Sabharam Basumatary from Gossaigaon, Rabiram Narzary from Dotma (ST), Sewli Mohilary from Kokrajhar (ST), and Rupam Roy from Baokhungri constituency.
On the other hand, Rezul Karim will contest from Parbotjhora, while Paniram Brahma has been named for Sidli-Chirang (ST).
The party has also nominated Thaneswar Basumatary from Manas, Maneswar Brahma from Baksa (ST), Maheswar Boro from Bhergaon, Rihon Daimary from Udalguri (ST), and Charan Boro from Mazbat.
